Quote:
Originally Posted by HejiraNYC
Well, that would be an interesting discussion, wouldn't it? I am inclined to think that people would generally assume that Lindsey was responsible for co-writing Christine's songs as well. But then again, I also personally believe that Christine is somehow given a pass because she unintentionally projected an air of stereotypical "masculinity;" her image was never sexualized like Stevie was in the 70s and 80s. Plus she participated in FM in a stereotypically masculine role- the main songwriter and instrumentalist- a role that was extremely rare for women in a mainstream rock and roll band at that time. In other words, perhaps she is subconsciously given more credibility as a musician because of her masculine energy and the fact that she did not project a more stereotypically female image (like Stevie). Would Christine be taken as seriously if she wore ballet leotards, chiffon, scarves and capes on stage? I think it would be impossible to answer this question, but I do think gender roles in rock music is a real issue.
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You know, I've kidded you about man-hands Christine comments before, but the truth is, I honestly don't understand this perception that Christine is not feminine. She seems
completely feminine to me. I would see your point if she was KT Oslin or Ellen Degeneres, but she isn't. Did she wear ballet leotards? No, but I don't see that as a mark of femininity anyway. If we're talking attire, I think more women dress like Christine than Stevie.
My mother is visiting from Michigan and I woke up and she had her coffee sitting on a Christine coaster I bought from Etsy, a set of coasters made from Christine's solo album. The idea of a coffee ring on one of them kind of freaked me out. She didn't know it was just for decoration. But anyway, that image from the coaster of Christine, before her piano, red dress flowing in the breeze . . . it said nothing but woman to me. I think she is accepted as being as talented a musician as any of the men were because she WAS as talented, not because she butched it up. And certainly the lyrical content of many of her songs is very pliant and passive on the surface, but no one says that about her musicianship.
Michele